Did you ever witness something and know, even as it was happening, that you would never forget it? That happened to me several times within an hour or so last Tuesday morning. We had what I hope will be our first annual Thanksgiving Breakfast. The meal was designed as a little thank you to some of our donors who support the Adopt-a-Student Program in the school. We invited about twenty donors--ten could attend. I also invited ten or so students who were recipients of the Adopt-a-Student funds. I thought that these two groups of wonderful people should know each other. I believe I was right.
First of all, the students did a great job of being themselves. They chatted about their lives and their dreams for the future. Without even knowing it , they presented the best of themselves and of Mt. Carmel--willing to work, able to succeed, and fueled by hope. I think the donors realized that their gifts, used to assist these students with tuitions, had been put to good use.
The donors were grand as well. They, truly all examples of humilty and generosity, talked to the students about what they were doing in life and about why they chose to give their money to our school. They, too, were eloquent as they spoke of the need to develop leadership for the future, the need to foster faith in our world, and the need to share ones blessings. Both students and donors taught each other many lessons just by their presence.
I had also invited two alumni to speak at the breakfast. Ally White is a freshman at The College of Notre Dame of Maryland who will major in structural engineering. Stephon Dingle, a sophomore at St. Mary's College, is already talking about graduate school. (Since he is the president of his class, perhaps we will be voting for him one day!) Both of these students spoke with great affection and gratitude for Mt. Carmel High School and the people who guided, taught and inspired them. They offered encouraging words to the students before them saying, "You can do it too--just keep on working."
The truth of the matter is that neither of these successful college students would have been able to finish high school at Mt. Carmel without significant help from the very people in the audience. They were living proof of how much the donations of many result in opportunities for young people.
The lump in my throat formed when I glanced out at the generations represented at that breakfast. I saw "connections" the way they should be. The young being cared for by the old and being inspired by those just several years removed. The older folks, realizing the great good that comes from sharing our blessings, interacting with students that truly are the future.
Pope John Paul II once said someting that I think continues to ring true. He said, "There is hope for the future, and its name is youth!" I have learned that this hope only comes to fruition with the help of many. I was privileged to share our little Thanksgiving Breakfast with people who really see that future and are willing to contribute to it--person by person and dollar by dollar.
During this holiday season, as we all appreciate our family and the things we love more than we sometimes do, you might feel a sense of generosity bubbling up within you. If you do, may I suggest supporting a great student with the gift of opportunity? Please contribute to our Adopt-a-Student Program and may you be blessed for your goodness if you do! (Contact Tom Rose in our Development Office to obtain details about the Adopt-a-Student Program--trose@olmcmd.org
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Saga of Two Bull Roasts
One of the truths about Catholic schools is that in order to make things work, people have to work together. This dictum is true on many levels--students have to do their work, parents have to work hard and sacrifice to afford the tuition, everyone works to build the community, and we hope that the Holy Spirit "works" to make education of both heart and mind happen. As I tell you about the two bull roasts I attended over the last two weekends, I think you will agree that we hit on all of the above!
Last spring I was part of a conversation with our Development Team and we were talking about how difficult it was to have successful fall events in Cougar Land because so many groups were having events at the same time. Our high school and elementary school co-sponosred a Bull Roast/Auction, our parish and schools together held a huge Fall Festival, and our Athletic Association held a Bull Roast--all within two months of each other. Our conversation touched on the awful economy, the cost to young families who needed not only ticket money but also babysitting dollars, and the difficulty of trying to pick among several worthy causes. In that conversation, an idea was born. Why not combine the two Bull Roasts and split the profits among the schools and Athletic Association? The fear was that in such a tough economy there would not be enough profit to satisfy the needs of all. It was a gamble to be sure!
So, the Bull Roast/Auction to benefit all three groups was held last weekend and it was a huge success in every way. The attendance was great--better than either single event. The food was fabulous thanks to the culinary skills of our chef in residence, Mr. Jim Moore. The auction had many donated items and there were even some deals to be had. Most of all, it was so much FUN!!! Laura Cummins, Katie Fitzpatrick and Tom Rose, our Development Team, did a fabulous job of creating an atmosphere of unity, commuity, and fun. They deserve a great deal of credit for the success of the night. The attendees, who came from all parts of our school and parsih families, deserve the same. So--the budget needs were met, people had a grand time, and everyone was reminded that working together often doesn't feel like work at all. Don't you love it when a good idea comes to fruition?
The second event happened this weekend and it was the Annual Michelle Lee Bevans Memorial Scholarship Bull Roast. This event is close to the hearts of many of us who knew Michelle, a high school student who died during her junior year after a five year battle with cancer. She was a courageous and wonderful girl who loved school, her friends, and cheerleading--probably not in that order! Her family (which includes not only her parents and brother, Dan, but also countless aunts, uncles, and cousins)works together to hold this event and several others each year to fund a scholarhsip in Michelle's honor. The scholarship assists students whose families are struggling with tuition in our elelmentary, middle, and high school. Over the years, thousands of dollars have been given and an endowed scholarship is being funded as well.
Many of Michelle's classmates, all grown up and some with children of their own, always come to the event. So do many of Michelle's teachers. They are joined by friends and family and the group is generally 300 or so strong. At each bull roast, in the midst of the fun, there is a remembrance of Michelle. This event hallmarks a courageous and faithful family who show us how love transcends all boundaries. We learn this as we enjoy great company, feast on endless food, drink our fair share of brew, and dance away the night. It is amazing how much can be accomplished when people work together. Sometimes it doesn't even seem like work at all. And, as we do so often, we have come full circle! I think that is the thought with which this saga began!!!
Last spring I was part of a conversation with our Development Team and we were talking about how difficult it was to have successful fall events in Cougar Land because so many groups were having events at the same time. Our high school and elementary school co-sponosred a Bull Roast/Auction, our parish and schools together held a huge Fall Festival, and our Athletic Association held a Bull Roast--all within two months of each other. Our conversation touched on the awful economy, the cost to young families who needed not only ticket money but also babysitting dollars, and the difficulty of trying to pick among several worthy causes. In that conversation, an idea was born. Why not combine the two Bull Roasts and split the profits among the schools and Athletic Association? The fear was that in such a tough economy there would not be enough profit to satisfy the needs of all. It was a gamble to be sure!
So, the Bull Roast/Auction to benefit all three groups was held last weekend and it was a huge success in every way. The attendance was great--better than either single event. The food was fabulous thanks to the culinary skills of our chef in residence, Mr. Jim Moore. The auction had many donated items and there were even some deals to be had. Most of all, it was so much FUN!!! Laura Cummins, Katie Fitzpatrick and Tom Rose, our Development Team, did a fabulous job of creating an atmosphere of unity, commuity, and fun. They deserve a great deal of credit for the success of the night. The attendees, who came from all parts of our school and parsih families, deserve the same. So--the budget needs were met, people had a grand time, and everyone was reminded that working together often doesn't feel like work at all. Don't you love it when a good idea comes to fruition?
The second event happened this weekend and it was the Annual Michelle Lee Bevans Memorial Scholarship Bull Roast. This event is close to the hearts of many of us who knew Michelle, a high school student who died during her junior year after a five year battle with cancer. She was a courageous and wonderful girl who loved school, her friends, and cheerleading--probably not in that order! Her family (which includes not only her parents and brother, Dan, but also countless aunts, uncles, and cousins)works together to hold this event and several others each year to fund a scholarhsip in Michelle's honor. The scholarship assists students whose families are struggling with tuition in our elelmentary, middle, and high school. Over the years, thousands of dollars have been given and an endowed scholarship is being funded as well.
Many of Michelle's classmates, all grown up and some with children of their own, always come to the event. So do many of Michelle's teachers. They are joined by friends and family and the group is generally 300 or so strong. At each bull roast, in the midst of the fun, there is a remembrance of Michelle. This event hallmarks a courageous and faithful family who show us how love transcends all boundaries. We learn this as we enjoy great company, feast on endless food, drink our fair share of brew, and dance away the night. It is amazing how much can be accomplished when people work together. Sometimes it doesn't even seem like work at all. And, as we do so often, we have come full circle! I think that is the thought with which this saga began!!!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
High School Sports--The Way It Should Be!
Tomorrow is an important day at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School. Our men's soccer team will play for the championship of the MIAA C Conference at 4:00 p.m. at Archbishop Spalding, a neutral site. There will be excitement building all day tomorrow in school. Students will wear the school colors of blue and gold instead of their uniforms. I am sure some faces will be painted blue and ponytails will be adorned with gold and blue ribbons. The school day will end with a pep rally and then the team will depart. They will be followed by a school van full of cheerleaders and a rented bus full of student fans. It has been several years since our team has gotten this far--to the very last game--on a championship run. Actually, the last time we won the big prize, our coach Drew Ganzerrmiller was a player! And, that brings me to the real reason that I write this commentary tonight instead of after the game tomorrow.
In recent years, professional athletes and even college level athletes seem to have lost something that all athletes used to embody. Most sports had a sense of purity now lost at these upper levels. High school sports, though,still has that magic . There is still something wonderful about high school athletics that causes the fan--student, parent, alum or principal--to yell with delight at a great play or get a lump in the throat when disappointment is a game's result. Our student athletes play because they love the game. Be it soccer, volleyball, lacrosse--you name it--they participate because they love the game and value the deep comraderie that results in working as part of a team. Athletics, at the high school level, still allows the loner to become part of things, allows the less skillful player to make a contribution, and allows the student leader to set a standard of sportsmanship and character that surpasses whatever number is on the scoreboard. Student athletes really care about each other. They care about their school and desire to bring "glory" to their efforts through hard work and cooperation. They want to win for the right reasons and they are willing to work hard to make that happen. (Our fall athletes began practice in mid-August and have put in two-three hours everyday since then training and practicing!)
I decided to write my comments while I was sitting in Church this morning! Today just happened be the Mass celebrating the children (ages 3-14 or so) who participate in our parish Athletic Association. This group includes coaches, parents, and kids that are part of the traditional CYO league. They play either on Saturday or Sunday during the fall and learn the skills I spoke about earlier including how to play soccer, how to share, how to accept a win with grace, and a defeat with sportsmanship. One glance at the flying helmets and late hits on television later on Sunday afternoon emhasizes just how important these life lessons are for kids who see great athletes some of whom have traded a love for their game for something else.
So,finally,here is the reason I chose to write my blog entry today! This morning I saw an example of high school athletes reaching the highest standard possible! Into the 10:00 a.m. Athletic Assoication Mass, marched our men's varsity soccer team. These high school boys were dressed in their uniforms and had decided to pray with the younger athletes before the last practice before their big game. They sat together as a team, toward the front of the Church. They were, every single one of them,reverent, respectful, and sincere. Fr. John wished them well and the congregation applauded. Better yet, the eyes of every little kid soccer player in that Church watched them. Those little kids saw prayer, respect, and community. They watched those older boys and looked up to them both literally and figuratively and dreamed of a day when they, too, might have a chance to play for a championship.
I think that in the bigger game of life, our boys have already won. They have dedicated themselves to hard work, doing their best, putting priorities in order, and setting a standard for others to follow. I am enormously proud of this team and the other athletes like them who may not have made it to a final championship game. Sports at Mt. Carmel remain close to what high school sports should be because our kids know what is really important--Striving to be the best without sacrificing who you really are! As for tomorrow, let's win that game! GO COUGARS!!!!
In recent years, professional athletes and even college level athletes seem to have lost something that all athletes used to embody. Most sports had a sense of purity now lost at these upper levels. High school sports, though,still has that magic . There is still something wonderful about high school athletics that causes the fan--student, parent, alum or principal--to yell with delight at a great play or get a lump in the throat when disappointment is a game's result. Our student athletes play because they love the game. Be it soccer, volleyball, lacrosse--you name it--they participate because they love the game and value the deep comraderie that results in working as part of a team. Athletics, at the high school level, still allows the loner to become part of things, allows the less skillful player to make a contribution, and allows the student leader to set a standard of sportsmanship and character that surpasses whatever number is on the scoreboard. Student athletes really care about each other. They care about their school and desire to bring "glory" to their efforts through hard work and cooperation. They want to win for the right reasons and they are willing to work hard to make that happen. (Our fall athletes began practice in mid-August and have put in two-three hours everyday since then training and practicing!)
I decided to write my comments while I was sitting in Church this morning! Today just happened be the Mass celebrating the children (ages 3-14 or so) who participate in our parish Athletic Association. This group includes coaches, parents, and kids that are part of the traditional CYO league. They play either on Saturday or Sunday during the fall and learn the skills I spoke about earlier including how to play soccer, how to share, how to accept a win with grace, and a defeat with sportsmanship. One glance at the flying helmets and late hits on television later on Sunday afternoon emhasizes just how important these life lessons are for kids who see great athletes some of whom have traded a love for their game for something else.
So,finally,here is the reason I chose to write my blog entry today! This morning I saw an example of high school athletes reaching the highest standard possible! Into the 10:00 a.m. Athletic Assoication Mass, marched our men's varsity soccer team. These high school boys were dressed in their uniforms and had decided to pray with the younger athletes before the last practice before their big game. They sat together as a team, toward the front of the Church. They were, every single one of them,reverent, respectful, and sincere. Fr. John wished them well and the congregation applauded. Better yet, the eyes of every little kid soccer player in that Church watched them. Those little kids saw prayer, respect, and community. They watched those older boys and looked up to them both literally and figuratively and dreamed of a day when they, too, might have a chance to play for a championship.
I think that in the bigger game of life, our boys have already won. They have dedicated themselves to hard work, doing their best, putting priorities in order, and setting a standard for others to follow. I am enormously proud of this team and the other athletes like them who may not have made it to a final championship game. Sports at Mt. Carmel remain close to what high school sports should be because our kids know what is really important--Striving to be the best without sacrificing who you really are! As for tomorrow, let's win that game! GO COUGARS!!!!
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